The Wigmaker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg: An Account of His Barbering, Hair-dressing, & Peruke-Making Services, & Some Remarks on Wigs of Various Styles. — John Shaqi
The Wigmaker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg: An Account of His Barbering, Hair-dressing, & Peruke-Making Services, & Some Remarks on Wigs of Various Styles.Bullock, Thomas K.
History
The Wigmaker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg: An Account of His Barbering, Hair-dressing, & Peruke-Making Services, & Some Remarks on Wigs of Various Styles.
Bullock, Thomas K.
Wigmakers; Wigs -- History
[Illustration: _The restored shop of the barber and perukemaker in
Williamsburg. It stands on Duke of Gloucester Street next to the
King’s Arms Tavern and across from the Raleigh Tavern. In
dimensions, appearance, and equipment it is believed to resemble
quite closely a shop that stood on the site about 1770 and may have
been occupied successively by the partnerships of Geohegan and
Brazier and of Charlton and Nichols._]
_MASTERS, SERVANTS, AND MATERIALS_
In such a small shop it seems unlikely that even a leading wigmaker
could have had very many helpers. But Edward Charlton at one time had
four apprentices and journeymen, and one of his contemporaries, Robert
Lyon, in the space of two years had five known bond servants, at least
three identified as barber-wigmakers.
Apprenticeship to a master barber and perukemaker was the normal—in fact
the only—way for a boy to learn the trade. The Williamsburg wigmakers
presumably all entered the craft in this manner, though Andrew Anderson
is the only one about whom the record is clear. Presumably, too, most of
them had apprentices in turn; but here the surviving information is
quite skimpy.
Journeymen (craftsmen who had finished their apprentice training but had
not yet gone into business as their own masters) were in good demand and
apparently in good supply. Alexander Finnie gave notice in a 1745 issue
of the _Virginia Gazette_ that he was “in want of Two or Three
Journeymen, that understand the Business of a Barber and Peruke-maker,”
and promised any who applied “good Encouragement.” The response to this
ad was prompt, for the very next issue of the _Gazette_ contained this
notice by the master barber and wigmaker whose shop was directly across
the street from Finnie’s:
_Whereas my honest Neighhour, that has advertis’d for Two or Three
Journeymen, has lately seduced One from my Service, in a clandestine
and undermining Manner; which I am well persuaded, that no Man but one
of his Principles would have done: Therefore it’s to be hoped, that
one of the Number he has advertised for, will come into my Service, in
Lieu of him who has been so villanously cajol’d as above, who may
depend on having good Encouragement, from_
Andrew Anderson.
Whether Anderson lured anyone into his employ by this ad does not
appear. But Finnie a year later announced that he had just imported from
London a shipment of wigmaking materials and also “some exceeding good
Workmen.” With what has the ring of smug satisfaction he concluded: “As
I have a great many good Workmen, Gentlemen and others may depend on
being speedily and faithfully served, in the best Manner.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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